Tokyo, Japan (BBN)-Japanese shares were up on Thursday, buoyed by a strong lead from Wall Street and positive comments from the Federal Reserve on the strength of the US economy.
The country’s benchmark Nikkei 225 traded at 20,526.31 points, 1.1 per cent up, reports BBC.
Data measuring the country’s industrial production came in 0.8 per cent higher compared to the previous month.
Shares in Nintendo were up by 8% while Nissan rose by 0.5%, after both companies reported positive results.
Later in the day, Japan will see electronics giant Sony and car makers Mitsubishi and Mazda reporting quarterly results.
Overnight, the US Federal Reserve indicated it is more positive on the US economy, confirming views it is likely to raise interest rates this year.
The US central bank said it had unanimously agreed to keep rates at close to zero this month, but believed the economy was on a stronger footing.
In Australia, the ASX/200 took the cue from the Fed and the positive close on Wall Street.
The country’s benchmark index traded 0.5 per cent higher at 5,651.70 points.
In China, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index also picked up on the lead from the US, rising by by 0.6 per cent to 24,756.74 while on the mainland, the Shanghai Composite bucked the trend, dropping 0.4 per cent to 3,775.18 points.
In Seoul, the Kospi index fell 0.4 per cent to 2,030.10 points.
South Korea saw it’s technology giant Samsung releasing second quarter results just before the market opened.
Net profit came in 8 per cent lower compared to the same period in the previous year.
Samsung Electronics shares traded 3 per cent down on the news.
BBN/SK/AD